Superintendent's move to Stratford best resolution to months of acrimony

Published 3:13 pm, Thursday, February 28, 2013

Janet Robinson's departure as superintendent of schools in Newtown, announced this week, was virtually inevitable.

In truth, her resignation to become superintendent in Stratford, effective July 1, is also likely the best resolution to the increasingly hostile relationship between the Board of Education and Robinson.

The school board -- particularly its chairwoman, Debbie Leidlein -- has clashed with Robinson over several policy issues, and last summer, by a 4-3 vote, the panel declined to extend the superintendent's standard three-year contract.

The tension seemingly subsided following the mass shooting of 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, as Robinson showed strong, courageous leadership in the days and weeks after that horrific tragedy.

Newtown was fortunate to have Robinson and Patricia Llodra, the town's first selectwoman, to turn to. Both responded with calm, reassuring, compassionate leadership locally and received rave reviews for their impressive participation in state and national discussions in the wake of Sandy Hook.

However, the bickering recently resumed and became more public.

It was clear that Leidlein and Robinson -- two strong personalities -- did not see eye to eye and that something had to give.

It was not a pleasant situation for either woman, or for the school board, or for the community, which has far greater wounds to heal than a political scuffle between two educational leaders.

Robinson's decision to accept the post in Stratford after five years in Newtown resolved matters quickly and easily for all parties.

And her move will allow everyone to make a fresh start.

Stratford will be gaining an experienced, capable educational leader.

Robinson will be free of the stress of dealing with the Newtown Board of Education, and she will be working for a school board that clearly wants her as its superintendent.

The Newtown community will be spared the ongoing hostility in the educational realm and can focus on more important matters.

And the school board will be able to hire a new superintendent with whom it will hopefully be on the same wavelength.

To be sure, it may not be an easy task to find the caliber superintendent needed to help Newtown move forward at this most difficult time.

For starters, the pool of superintendent candidates nationally is lower than it used to be.

There may also be some potential candidates who shy away because of the demands of dealing with a district recovering from a major trauma or because of concern about the school board's relationship with Robinson.

But we are confident that Newtown will conduct a thorough and effective search and will ultimately hire a passionate educator and strong, empathetic leader who can guide the school district through the difficult healing process.

We congratulate Janet Robinson on her new position, and we wish her well in dealing with the challenges of a larger, more diverse school district.

And we wish the Newtown Board of Education and the community well as they seek to attract the right person for the times.